Tagged and Awarded

I do have many recipe posts, but summer laziness (?) is not letting me to edit them and post. So I just want to do a couple of tags and acknowledge some awards for this post.

Tags:

First Tag:

I was tagged long back for a chain of questions by Veda of Kai Kriye and Iyengar’s Kitchen. Sorry for taking so long in doing this Veda!! And thank you so much for the tag. I enjoyed doing it.

1. What is your current obsession?

Blogging and Music

2. What are you wearing today?

I am typing this at midnight, so obviously I am wearing a night dress.

3. What’s for dinner?

We had rotis with some curry and yogurt.

4. What’s the last thing you bought?

Some pretty tops.

5. What are you listening to right now?

Only the sound of key board while I am typing this as everybody else is fast asleep.

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

She is so talented, friendly and sweet.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

My hometown, where I grew up.

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?

Sunglasses and Sunscreen Lotion

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Hong Kong, the first foreign country I visited. I like it so much.

10. Which language do you want to learn?

All the languages in the world…

11. What’s your favourite quote?

“To err is human, to forgive divine.” -Alexander Pope

12. Who do you want to meet right now?

My Mom

13. What is your favourite colour?

Green and Aqua Blue

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?

My Pink Churidar

15. What is your dream job?

A fashion designer

16. What’s your favourite magazine?

National Geographic

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

Not sure.

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

Clothes that won’t fit well or suit well.

19. Who are your style icons?

None.

20. Describe your personal style.?

Simplicity

21. What are you going to do after this?

Go to sleep because I am typing this as midnight.

22. What are your favourite movies?

It’s very big list.

24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Body Lotion (I don’t use too many cosmetics or make up).

23. What inspires you?

Pleasant music

24. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:

Simplicity, Smile and Decent Hair style.

25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

I just mix and match .

26. Coffee or tea?

Coffee is a must in the mornings and tea sometimes in the evening.

27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

Just take a stroll in the fresh air.

28. What is the meaning of your name?

Uma means Goddess Parvathi.

29. Which other blogs you love visiting?

I love all the blogs.

I am adding one more:

30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Almond Burfi (Fudge)

**The rules are: Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.

Second Tag:

I was tagged again by Sailaja of Sailaja’s Kitchen who also passed an award. Actually this tag comes along with that award. Thank you for the award and the tag Sailaja.

She passed me the Kreativ Blogger award that comes with some rules:-

1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

Sailaja, I have done a similar tag before too. Please check this post: I’ve Been Tagged Again!

Awards:

Pooja of My Experience with Cooking has passed me “One Lovely Blog” award long back. Thank you for the award Pooja!!

Muskaan and Sadhana of A2ZVegetarian Cuisine have passed me “I Love Your Blog” award. Thank you so much for your sweet gesture!

Now it’s my turn to pass these tags and awards. I know many of you have already got these awards before. It was so hard to choose some.

I am passing these to:

• Divya of Dilse..
• Sowmya of Creative Saga
• Jayasree of Experiments in Kailas Kitchen
• Rekha of Plantain Leaf
• Usha of Veg Inspirations
• Lakshmi of Taste of Mysore
• Suma of Suma’s Cuisine
• Karuna of Foodie by Nature
• Hari Chandana of Indian Cuisine
• Rajeswari vijayanand of Rak’s Kitchen
• Home Cooked
• Varunavi of My Kitchen’s Aroma

Dear friends, please accept the tags and the awards. Congratulations to you all!!

Continue Reading....

Yogurt – Fruit Pops

Hi Friends, how are you all? Isn’t it a long time since I posted a recipe? Now I am back into action. I’ll catch up with all your yummy posts soon!!

Coming to today’s post, I prepared these yogurt pops when my sister’s family was here with us. Everyone (especially kids) enjoyed the taste of these pops. I used “Oikos organic Greek yogurt” that has honey on the bottom for making these pops. Do you remember my previous post on Oikos organic yogurt? I really like the taste and goodness of this yogurt.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt (with Honey at the bottom) (5.3 oz)
• Some Cantaloupe pieces, skin removed (approx. 2 cups) (can be substituted with any fruit of your choice)
• Sugar as needed (optional)
• ½ tsp Vanilla Essence (optional)
  

Preparation:

Place fruit pieces in a blender and blend until smooth. Add yogurt + vanilla essence and blend again until smooth. Add little water if needed. If you want more sweet, add some sugar while blending.

Now it becomes like a smoothie. You can just drink it out or pour into ice pop molds and freeze until set, up to 4 – 6 hours.

To unmold these pops, just place the mold in warm water for 2 seconds or place under running water from the tap. They come out easily after 2 seconds.

Enjoy these yummy yogurt pops on a hot evening.

On a Happy Note:

Do you remember the fun event “Challenge” hosted by Veda Murthy? I was lucky to be one of the winners of this challenging event. I had the pleasure of receiving the beautiful rather artistic gift from Veda during my summer break. It was a hand-made art piece prepared by the very talented Veda!! Check her other blog, Kai Kriye, where she has displayed many of her creations and art. Thank you so much for such a valuable gift Veda! It beautified one of the walls in our family room. Everyone has been appreciating it. Thank you once again!!

Continue Reading....

Broccoli – Zucchini Chutney

I recently prepared this interesting and delicious chutney. I don’t like to eat broccoli in curry form or in salads due its odd smell/odd taste. But I still want eat them due to the health benefits broccoli possesses. So sometimes I add them in sambar or make chutney which suppresses the smell. For kids, I add broccoli in smoothies.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Broccoli Florets
• 1 cup Zucchini Pieces
• 2 tsp Red Chili Powder (or as required)
• ½ tsp Mustard Seeds
• ¼ tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 tsp Bengal Gram (Pachi Senaga pappu, Chana Dal)
• 1 tsp Black Gram (Minappappu, Urad Dal)
• A handful of Cilantro Leaves
• ½ tsp Tamarind Pulp
• 2 tsp Oil
• Salt

Preparation:

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add cumin seeds + chana dal + urad dal and sauté well. When they become golden brown in color, add broccoli + zucchini pieces + cilantro and sauté well until they become little soft. Don’t overcook them. Later transfer them to a plate and allow cooling.

Finally blend all of them into a fine paste by adding chili powder + tamarind pulp + salt. Add very little water if needed.

Enjoy this yummy chutney with hot rice and ghee. This chutney tastes great with chapathis too!!

Continue Reading....

Lentils with Ridge Gourd (Beerakaya Pappu/Dhal)

This is a very simple side dish which is very comforting and delicious. Coming to the health benefits, we all know all the lentils are good sources of protein. Lentils are also rich in calcium, vitamin B and iron. Ridge Gourd is a healthy vegetable too! It’s rich in minerals, fiber, Vitamin C and lot more. It has an excellent cooling effect of our body.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Tuvar Dhal (Kandi Pappu)
• 2 small Ridge Gourds
• 1 Tomato
• 2 or 3 Green Chilies
• ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
• A pinch of Asafetida (Hing/Inguva)
• ½ tsp Mustard Seeds
• ¼ tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 dry Red Chili, broken into 2 pieces (optional)
• A handful of Cilantro Leaves (Kottimeera)
• 1 tsp Oil
• Salt

Preparation:

Wash and pressure cook toor daal until soft.

Peel and chop ridge gourd into small pieces. Chop tomato and green chilies into small pieces.

In a pan/bowl heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add cumin seeds + red chili + asafetida and stir well.

Then add ridge gourd pieces along with tomato and green chilies and mix well. Pour some water just enough to boil the veggies. Add turmeric and mix well. Then cover the pan and let the veggies cook well and become soft.

Later add cooked daal and mix well. Leave it on the stove on low flame until bubbles form on top and daal comes to a boil.

Finally add cilantro leaves and salt. Mix well and switch off the flame.

Enjoy this yummy daal with hot rice and some ghee. This is a very comforting food!!

Continue Reading....